China and Asean need to bridge trust gaps in order to align their security objectives

[WORLD] Cambodia has begun welcoming foreign naval vessels to its newly upgraded Ream Naval Base, signaling a push to portray the facility as a multilateral hub rather than a strategic outpost for China. A Vietnamese gunboat docked at Ream on April 27, shortly after two Japanese minesweepers arrived following the official launch of the revamped base. Russian naval ships also made a port call beginning in late April.

According to The Phnom Penh Post, Prime Minister Hun Manet has stated that Cambodia “welcomes requests from all nations” to visit the base and participate in joint activities. The recent docking of Vietnamese, Russian, and Japanese vessels is seen as an effort to dispel concerns that the base operates under exclusive Chinese influence. This inclusive approach aligns with Beijing’s public endorsement of a cooperative regional security framework.

In April, just ahead of President Xi Jinping’s tour of Southeast Asia, China unveiled a new security doctrine at a conference on diplomacy with neighboring countries. The framework echoes Xi’s remarks from November 2024, asserting that “It is for the people of Asia to run the affairs of Asia.”

Funded and technically supported by China since 2022, the Ream Naval Base has undergone substantial upgrades. The enhancements include a 300-meter deep-water pier, a 5,000-ton dry dock, and the establishment of a Cambodia-China Joint Logistics and Training Center. These developments bolster Cambodia’s naval capabilities while serving China’s broader strategic objective to expand maritime access and secure crucial shipping routes such as the Malacca Strait—an essential artery for global trade and energy transport.

Despite regional concerns and U.S. warnings over a potential Chinese military foothold in Cambodia, Phnom Penh maintains that the base remains under full national sovereignty. Cambodian officials stress that Ream is open to friendly navies for joint exercises and humanitarian operations, though limitations on infrastructure prevent the docking of larger vessels such as aircraft carriers.

Under Prime Minister Hun Manet’s leadership, Cambodia has consistently portrayed the expansion of Ream as a move to strengthen national security. The upgrades are intended to enhance the Royal Cambodian Navy’s capacity to guard the nation’s maritime interests, particularly in the face of ongoing issues like illegal fishing and unresolved territorial disputes with neighboring countries, including Thailand and Vietnam. While Chinese support was pivotal in modernizing the base, Cambodian authorities assert the improvements are part of a wider strategy aimed at bolstering self-reliance and promoting regional stability—not relinquishing control to foreign powers.

The sequential visits of Japanese, Vietnamese, and Russian ships shortly after the base’s inauguration appear calculated to reinforce Cambodia’s narrative of openness. Japanese vessels were the first to utilize the new pier, followed by Vietnamese and Russian naval units that took part in patrol coordination and goodwill activities with Cambodian forces. These interactions underline Phnom Penh’s intention to position Ream as a platform for regional collaboration. Still, analysts caution that the perception of neutrality will depend on the frequency and diversity of foreign ship visits compared to China’s naval presence.

While Cambodian officials assert that Ream is a multilateral facility, the presence of the Cambodia-China Joint Logistics and Training Center, staffed by both countries and used for recurring joint exercises such as the Golden Dragon drills, points to a limited but ongoing Chinese footprint. This arrangement enhances Beijing’s quiet naval reach in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea, potentially enabling faster response times and intelligence operations in the event of regional conflicts. Strategically located near the Malacca Strait, the base supports China's Belt and Road Initiative by safeguarding key maritime trade routes, a development that has raised alarms in regional capitals such as Hanoi and New Delhi over possible encirclement and shifts in Indo-Pacific power dynamics.

Cambodia has expressed willingness to host naval visits from other powers, including the United States and India, in a bid to diversify defense partnerships and counterbalance growing concerns about Chinese dominance. Prime Minister Hun Manet has publicly invited multiple countries to engage in joint operations at Ream, reinforcing the government’s commitment to neutrality and inclusive security cooperation. Yet, the effectiveness of this strategy will hinge on transparent base operations and Cambodia’s ability to navigate the competing expectations of global and regional actors.

As the situation evolves, the Ream Naval Base remains a focal point in the complex geopolitical landscape of Southeast Asia. Cambodia’s balancing act—asserting sovereignty while engaging multiple powers—could significantly influence the security calculus of the Gulf of Thailand and the wider Indo-Pacific region.